JP2021057208A - Male terminal, and male connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely stop a male terminal in front. SOLUTION: This is a male terminal 40 housed in a cavity 12 of a housing 11, and is a plate-shaped tab 49 formed at a front end portion and a square cylinder which is continuously opened to the rear portion of the tab 49 toward the rear. A box portion 41 having a shape and a first convex portion 42 protruding in the thickness direction of the tab 49 is formed on one plate surface of the tab 49, and the first convex portion 42 is the said. A male terminal 40 that is press-fitted into the inner wall of the cavity 12 of the housing 11 from behind. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to male terminals and male connectors.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-243065 describes a connector provided with a male terminal fitting. The cavity of the connector is provided with a receiving surface that is substantially orthogonal to the insertion direction of the male terminal fitting. The male terminal fitting is provided with a contact surface that is substantially orthogonal to the insertion direction of the male terminal fitting. The male terminal fitting has a tab protruding forward from the front end of the square tube portion. The contact surface is provided on the front end edge of the square tube portion.

The male terminal fitting inserted into the cavity is stopped in front by abutting the contact surface against the receiving surface in the cavity in substantially the same direction as the insertion direction of the male terminal fitting. It can be reliably stopped in front at the regular insertion position of.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-243065

Recently, there is a demand for miniaturization of male terminals and male connectors. In order to reduce the size of the male terminal, for example, it is conceivable to make the metal plate material constituting the male terminal thinner than before. If the metal plate is thin, if a contact surface is provided on the front edge of the square tube, the metal plate that constitutes the square tube may buckle when the contact surface comes into contact with the receiving surface of the housing. There is. Then, there arises a problem that the male terminal cannot be stopped in front of the male connector.

The present disclosure has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to ensure that the male terminal is stopped in front.

The present disclosure is a male terminal housed in a cavity of a housing, which includes a plate-shaped tab formed at the front end portion and a square tubular box portion which is continuous with the rear portion of the tab and opens rearward. , And a first convex portion protruding in the thickness direction of the tab is formed on one plate surface of the tab, and the first convex portion is press-fitted into the inner wall of the cavity of the housing from the rear. It is designed to do.

According to the present disclosure, the male terminal can be reliably stopped in front.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a male connector according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a male connector. FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view showing the housing. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a male terminal. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a male terminal. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged side sectional view showing a state before the first convex portion is inserted into the tab insertion hole. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a male terminal. FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged plan sectional view showing a state before the first convex portion is inserted into the tab insertion hole. FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged side sectional view showing a male connector. FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged side sectional view showing a male connector. FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged plan sectional view showing a state before the tab is inserted into the tab insertion hole in the male connector according to the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged plan sectional view showing a male connector.

[Explanation of Embodiments of the present disclosure]
First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.

(1) The present disclosure is a male terminal housed in a cavity of a housing, which is a plate-shaped tab formed at a front end portion and a square tubular shape that is continuous with the rear portion of the tab and opens rearward. A box portion and a first convex portion are formed on one plate surface of the tab so as to project in the thickness direction of the tab, and the first convex portion is formed on the inner wall of the cavity of the housing. It is designed to be press-fitted from the rear.

By press-fitting the first convex portion into the inner wall of the cavity from the rear, the male terminal is held in the cavity of the housing in a front-stopped state. The holding force of the male terminal in the housing can be improved as compared with the case where the metal plate comes into contact with the cavity of the housing.

(2) The other plate surface of the tab is preferably a first positioning surface that comes into contact with the inner wall of the cavity of the housing and is positioned in the thickness direction of the tab.

When the first convex portion is press-fitted into the cavity of the housing, the other surface of the tab is pressed against the inner wall of the cavity of the housing by the reaction force from the inner wall of the cavity. At this time, the other surface of the tab is the first positioning surface and comes into contact with the inner wall of the cavity. As a result, the relative positioning accuracy between the male terminal and the male connector can be improved in the thickness direction of the tab.

(3) A second convex portion that protrudes in a direction different from that of the first convex portion of the tab is formed on one side wall of the box portion, and another side wall of the box portion that faces the one side wall. The side wall is preferably a second positioning surface that comes into contact with the inner wall of the cavity of the housing and is positioned in the protruding direction of the second convex portion.

According to the above configuration, the second convex portion is press-fitted into the inner wall of the cavity, so that the second positioning surface is pressed against the inner wall of the cavity of the housing by the reaction force from the inner wall of the cavity. Thereby, the relative positioning accuracy between the male terminal and the male connector can be improved in the protruding direction of the second convex portion.

(4) The second convex portion has a shape bulging from the metal plate material constituting the box portion, and the box portion has a through hole at a position corresponding to the rear end portion of the second convex portion. Is preferably formed.

Since the through hole is formed, the protruding height dimension of the second convex portion from the metal plate material constituting the box portion can be increased. As a result, the second convex portion is deeply press-fitted into the inner wall of the cavity, so that the relative positioning accuracy between the male terminal and the male connector can be improved in the protruding direction of the second convex portion, and the male terminal and the male terminal can be used. The holding power with the housing can be improved.

(5) The present disclosure is a male connector including the male terminal according to any one of the above and a housing having a cavity in which the male terminal is housed, and the cavity of the housing is provided with a tab. A tapered inclined surface is formed in the extending direction, and the first convex portion is press-fitted into the inclined surface.

By press-fitting the first convex portion into the first inclined surface from the rear, the male terminal is gradually pressed against the wall surface of the inner wall of the cavity opposite to the first inclined surface along the first inclined surface. There is. Thereby, the male terminal can be stopped in front of the housing, and the positioning of the male terminal and the housing in the thickness direction of the tab can be performed in the same process.

[Details of Embodiments of the present disclosure]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. The present invention is not limited to these examples, and is indicated by the scope of claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

<Embodiment 1>
The first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. The male connector 10 of the present embodiment includes a housing 11 and a male terminal 40. In the following description of the male terminal 40, the direction indicated by the arrow Z is upward, the direction indicated by arrow Y is forward, and the direction indicated by arrow X is left. Further, for a plurality of the same members, a reference numeral may be added to only a part of the members, and the reference numeral may be omitted for other members.

[Housing 11]
As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 11 is made of an insulating synthetic resin, and a cavity 12 is formed inside the housing 11 by opening the front and rear of the housing 11. The portion of the cavity 12 formed on the front wall of the housing 11 is a tab insertion hole 13 that opens forward. The tab insertion hole 13 communicates with the cavity 12. The vertical height dimension of the tab insertion hole 13 is smaller than the vertical height dimension of the cavity 12.

The lower surface of the tab insertion hole 13 and the lower surface of the cavity 12 are flat and continuous. In other words, no step is formed between the lower surface of the tab insertion hole 13 and the lower surface of the cavity 12.

An inclined surface 14 connecting the upper wall of the cavity 12 and the upper wall 13A of the tab insertion hole 13 is formed on the rear surface of the front wall of the housing 11. Since the rear surface of the front wall of the cavity 12 is formed in a tapered shape in the front (direction in which the tab insertion hole 13 extends), the inclined surface 14 is formed so as to be inclined diagonally forward and downward.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing 11 is formed with a front opening 16 that opens to the left and communicates with the cavity 12. Further, the housing 11 is formed with a rear opening 17 that opens to the left and communicates with the cavity 12 behind the front opening 16.

As shown in FIG. 3, a guide slope 15 inclined diagonally rearward to the left is formed from the rear end portion of the front side opening 16 to the front end portion of the rear opening 17. The guide slope 15 and the second convex portion 47, which will be described later, are in sliding contact with each other.

[Male terminal 40]
As shown in FIG. 4, the male terminal 40 is formed by bending a metal plate material punched into a predetermined shape, and has an elongated shape in the front-rear direction as a whole. As the metal plate material, any metal such as copper, copper alloy, aluminum, and aluminum alloy can be selected.

As shown in FIG. 5, a tab 49 extending forward and elongated is formed at the front end portion of the male terminal 40. The tab 49 is connected to a female terminal on the other side (not shown). A first convex portion 42 projecting upward is formed at a position near the rear end of the upper surface of the tab 49. The first convex portion 42 is formed near the center of the tab 49 in the left-right direction. The first convex portion 42 is formed by punching out a metal plate material constituting the tab 49. As shown in FIG. 6, the front surface of the first convex portion 42 is a front slope 43 that is inclined forward. The inclination angle of the front slope 43 and the inclination angle of the inclination surface 14 of the cavity 12 are set to be substantially the same.

As shown in FIG. 6, the vertical height dimension of the tab insertion hole 13 of the housing 11 is based on the vertical thickness dimension of the tab 49, which is different from the portion where the first convex portion 42 is provided. Is also formed large. On the other hand, the height dimension of the tab 49 and the first convex portion 42 combined is set to be larger than the height dimension of the tab insertion hole 13 in the vertical direction. As a result, the first convex portion 42 is press-fitted into the upper wall 13A of the tab insertion hole 13 from the rear in a state where the tab 49 is inserted into the tab insertion hole 13. When the first convex portion 42 is press-fitted into the upper wall 13A of the tab insertion hole 13, the lower surface of the tab is pressed against the lower wall 13B of the tab insertion hole 13 from above. As a result, the tab 49 is positioned in the vertical direction with respect to the housing 11. The lower surface of the tab 49 is a first positioning surface 44. The upper wall 13A and the lower wall 13B of the tab insertion hole 13 face each other.

As shown in FIG. 4, the substantially central portion of the male terminal 40 in the length direction is the box portion 41. The box portion 41 extends in the front-rear direction and is formed as a flat square tube in the vertical direction as a whole. The front surface of the box portion 41 is closed by the front wall. The box portion 41 is bent from one upper end of the bottom wall, the left side wall 45 and the right side wall 46 extending upward from the left and right side edges of the bottom wall, and the left side wall 45 or the right side wall 46, and engages with the other upper end. It has an upper wall 50 to be stopped.

As shown in FIG. 7, the width dimension of the box portion 41 in the left-right direction is set to be slightly larger than the width dimension of the tab 49 in the left-right direction. As a result, the left side wall 45 and the right side wall 46 of the box portion 41 have a shape that slightly bulges in the left-right direction from the tab 49.

As shown in FIG. 7, a second convex portion 47 projecting to the left is formed at a position near the rear end portion of the left side wall 45 of the box portion 41. The second convex portion 47 is formed by knocking out the metal plate material constituting the left side wall 45. The front surface of the second convex portion 47 is formed so as to be inclined diagonally rearward to the left. As a result, the front surface of the second convex portion 47 smoothly slides into contact with the guide slope 15 of the housing 11. The rear surface of the second convex portion 47 is formed so as to be sharply raised and has an overhang shape. As a result, the second convex portion 47 press-fitted into the left wall of the cavity 12 is prevented from coming off rearward.

The box portion 41 is formed with a through hole 47A penetrating the left side wall 45 of the box portion 41 at a position corresponding to the rear end portion of the second convex portion 47. The through hole 47A opens slightly rearward from the rear end portion of the second convex portion 47.

As shown in FIG. 10, the width dimension of the cavity 12 in the left-right direction is set to be smaller than the width dimension of the box portion 41 and the second convex portion 47 combined. As a result, the second convex portion 47 is press-fitted into the left side wall 12A of the cavity 12 while the box portion 41 is housed in the cavity 12. With the second convex portion 47 press-fitted into the left side wall 12A of the cavity 12, the right side surface of the box portion 41 is pressed against the right side wall 12B of the cavity 12 from the left side. As a result, the box portion 41 is positioned in the left-right direction with respect to the housing 11. The right side surface of the box portion 41 is a second positioning surface 48.

Although not shown in detail, an electric wire connecting portion to which an electric wire is connected is provided at the rear end of the box portion 41. The connection structure between the electric wire and the electric wire connecting portion is not particularly limited, and any method such as crimping, pressure welding, soldering, and welding can be used.

[Assembly process of male connector 10]
Subsequently, an example of the assembly process of the male connector 10 will be described. The assembly process of the male connector 10 is not limited to the following description.

The male terminal 40 is inserted into the cavity 12 of the housing 11 from the rear, and the front end portion of the tab 49 reaches the tab insertion hole 13.

The front end of the tab 49 is inserted into the tab insertion hole 13 from the rear. Further, when the male terminal 40 is pushed forward, as shown in FIG. 6, the first convex portion 42 of the tab 49 comes into contact with the inclined surface 14 of the housing 11 from the rear. Since the inclination angle of the front slope 43 of the first convex portion 42 and the inclination angle of the inclined surface 14 of the housing 11 are formed to be substantially the same, the first convex portion 42 is smoothly guided to the inclined surface 14. , Reach the rear end of the tab insertion hole 13.

When the male terminal 40 is further pressed forward, the first convex portion 42 is press-fitted into the upper wall 13A of the tab insertion hole 13 as shown in FIG. Then, the male terminal 40 is pushed downward by the reaction force, and the first positioning surface 44 of the tab 49 is pressed against the lower wall 13B of the tab insertion hole 13 from above. Further, the male terminal 40 is pressed forward, and the male terminal 40 is held in the front stop state.

On the other hand, the second convex portion 47 is guided into the front opening 16 as shown in FIG. 8 by sliding contact with the guide slope 15 of the housing 11. In the front opening 16, the second convex portion 47 does not come into contact with the housing 11.

When the male terminal 40 is further pressed forward, the second convex portion 47 is press-fitted into the left side wall 12A of the cavity 12 as shown in FIG. Then, the box portion 41 is pressed to the right by the reaction force, and the second positioning surface 48 of the box portion 41 is pressed against the right wall 12B of the cavity 12 from the left. As a result, the male terminal 40 is held in the cavity 12 in a rear-stopped state.

Subsequently, the action and effect of this embodiment will be described. This embodiment is a male terminal 40 housed in a cavity 12 of a housing 11, and is a plate-shaped tab 49 formed at a front end portion and a square cylinder that is continuously opened to the rear portion of the tab 49 toward the rear. A box portion 41 and a first convex portion 42 projecting in the thickness direction of the tab 49 are formed on one plate surface of the tab 49, and the first convex portion 42 is a cavity of the housing 11. Of the twelve, the tab insertion hole 13 is press-fitted into the upper wall 13A from the rear.

By press-fitting the first convex portion 42 into the upper wall 13A of the tab insertion hole 13 of the cavity 12 from behind, the male terminal 40 is held in the cavity 12 of the housing 11 in a front-stopped state. The holding force of the male terminal 40 in the housing 11 can be improved as compared with the case where the metal plate comes into contact with the cavity 12 of the housing 11.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the other plate surface of the tab 49 comes into contact with the lower wall 13B of the tab insertion hole 13 in the cavity 12 of the housing 11, and the tab 49 is positioned in the thickness direction. The positioning surface 44 is used.

When the first convex portion 42 is press-fitted into the cavity 12 of the housing 11, the other surface of the tab 49 has a tab insertion hole in the cavity 12 of the housing 11 due to a reaction force from the upper wall 13A of the tab insertion hole 13 in the cavity 12. It is pressed against the lower wall 13B of 13. At this time, the other surface of the tab 49 is the first positioning surface 44, which comes into contact with the lower wall 13B of the tab insertion hole 13 in the cavity 12. Thereby, the relative positioning accuracy between the male terminal 40 and the male connector 10 can be improved in the thickness direction of the tab 49.

Further, according to the present embodiment, a second convex portion 47 projecting in a direction different from that of the first convex portion 42 of the tab 49 is formed on one side wall of the box portion 41, and the first convex portion 47 of the box portion 41 is formed. The other side wall facing the side wall is a second positioning surface 48 that comes into contact with the right side wall 12B of the cavity 12 of the housing 11 and positions the second convex portion 47 in the projecting direction.

According to the above configuration, the second convex portion 47 is press-fitted into the left side wall 12A of the cavity 12, and the second positioning surface 48 is on the right side of the cavity 12 of the housing 11 due to the reaction force from the left side wall 12A of the cavity 12. It is pressed against the wall 12B. As a result, the relative positioning accuracy between the male terminal 40 and the male connector 10 can be improved in the protruding direction of the second convex portion 47.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the second convex portion 47 has a shape bulging from the metal plate material constituting the box portion 41, and the box portion 41 corresponds to the rear end portion of the second convex portion 47. A through hole 47A is formed at the position where the through hole 47A is formed.

Since the through hole 47A is formed, the protruding height dimension of the second convex portion 47 from the metal plate material constituting the box portion 41 can be increased. As a result, the second convex portion 47 is deeply press-fitted into the left side wall 12A of the cavity 12, so that the relative positioning accuracy between the male terminal 40 and the male connector 10 can be improved in the protruding direction of the second convex portion 47. At the same time, the holding force between the male terminal 40 and the housing 11 can be improved.

Further, the present embodiment is a male connector 10 including a male terminal 40 and a housing 11 having a cavity 12 in which the male terminal 40 is housed, and the cavity 12 of the housing 11 has a tab 49 extending in the extending direction. A tapered inclined surface 14 is formed, and the first convex portion 42 is press-fitted into the inclined surface 14.

By press-fitting the first convex portion 42 into the inclined surface 14 from behind, the male terminal 40 is gradually pressed against the wall surface of the inner wall of the cavity 12 opposite to the inclined surface 14 along the inclined surface 14. There is. As a result, the male terminal 40 can be stopped in front of the housing 11 and the positioning of the male terminal 40 and the housing 11 in the thickness direction of the tab 49 can be performed in the same process.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 12. In the male terminal 70 according to the present embodiment, the right side surface 71A of the tab 71 and the right side surface 72A of the box portion 72 are flat and continuous. In other words, no step is formed between the right side surface 71A of the tab 71 and the right side surface 72A of the box portion 72.

As shown in FIG. 11, in the housing 60 according to the present embodiment, the right side wall 61A of the tab insertion hole 61 and the right side wall 62A of the cavity 62 are flat and continuous. In other words, no step is formed between the right side wall 61A of the tab insertion hole 61 and the right side wall 62A of the cavity 62.

Since the configurations other than the above are almost the same as those in the first embodiment, the same members are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 12, when the male terminal 70 is inserted into the cavity 62 of the housing 60, the right side surface 71A of the tab 71 is pressed against the tab insertion hole 61 by the right side wall 61A from the left side, and the box portion 72 The right side surface 72A of the cavity 62 is pressed from the left side by the right side wall 62A of the cavity 62. As a result, in the tab 71, the tab 71 and the box portion 72 are integrally formed to form a flat surface for positioning extending in the front-rear direction, and in the housing 60, the tab insertion hole 61 and the cavity 62 are integrally formed in the front-rear direction. A plane for positioning extending in the direction is formed. As a result, the positional accuracy of the male terminal 70 in the left-right direction can be improved in the cavity 62.

<Other Embodiments>
(1) A plurality of male terminals 40 may be accommodated in one male connector 10.

(2) The first convex portion 42 may be formed on the lower surface of the tab 49. In this case, the first positioning surface 44 is provided on the upper surface of the tab 49.

(3) The second convex portion 47 may be formed on the right side wall of the box portion 41. In this case, the second positioning surface 48 is provided on the left side wall 45 of the box portion 41.

(4) The second convex portion 47 may be omitted, and the male terminal 40 may be locked to the housing 11 by a lance provided so as to project from the inner wall of the cavity 12 into the cavity 12.

10: Male connectors 11, 60: Housing 12, 62: Cavity 12A: Cavity left wall 12B: Cavity right wall 13, 61: Tab insertion hole 13A: Tab insertion hole upper wall 13B: Tab insertion hole lower wall 14 : Inclined surface 15: Guide slope 16: Front opening 17: Rear opening 40, 70: Male terminals 41, 72: Box 42: First convex portion 43: Front slope 44: First positioning surface 45: Left side wall 46: Right side wall 47: Second convex portion 47A: Through hole 48: Second positioning surface 49, 71: Tab 50: Upper wall 60: Housing 61A: Right side wall of tab insertion hole 62A: Right side wall of cavity 71A: Of tab Right side 72A: Right side of the box

Claims (5)

A male terminal housed in a housing cavity
A plate-shaped tab formed at the front end and
A square tubular box portion that is continuous with the rear portion of the tab and opens rearward is provided.
A first convex portion protruding in the thickness direction of the tab is formed on one plate surface of the tab.
The first convex portion is a male terminal that is press-fitted into the inner wall of the cavity of the housing from the rear. The male terminal according to claim 1, wherein the other plate surface of the tab is a first positioning surface that comes into contact with the inner wall of the cavity of the housing and is positioned in the thickness direction of the tab. A second convex portion that protrudes in a direction different from that of the first convex portion of the tab is formed on one side wall of the box portion.
The other side wall of the box portion facing the one side wall is a second positioning surface that comes into contact with the inner wall of the cavity of the housing and is positioned in the protruding direction of the second convex portion. The male terminal according to claim 1 or 2. The second convex portion has a shape bulging from the metal plate material constituting the box portion, and a through hole is formed in the box portion at a position corresponding to the rear end portion of the second convex portion. The male terminal according to claim 3. The male terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A male connector comprising a housing having a cavity in which the male terminal is housed.
A male connector in which an inclined surface having a tapered shape is formed in the cavity of the housing in the extending direction of the tab, and the first convex portion is press-fitted into the inclined surface.

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